Phytochemical malabsorption: clinical significance

Table 1 Selected phytochemicals and their possible roles in health[3]

Phytochemicals	Some important food sources	Possible roles in health
Carctenoids	Orange pigmented and green	Antioxidants
	leafy vegetables, e.g.	Antimutagen
	carrots,	Anticarcinogen
	tomatoes, spinach	Immuno-enhancement
Flavonoids,	Green and yellow leafy	Antioxidants
isoflavonoids	vegetables, e.g. parsley,	Anticarcinogen
and saponins	celery, soy bean and soy	Oestrogenic
	products	Immuno-modulating
Polyphenols	Cranberry, raspberries,	Antioxidants
	blackberries	Antibacterial
	Rosemary, oregano, thyme	Reduce urinary tract infection
Calechins	Green tea	Antimutagen
		Anticarcinogen
		Anticariogen
Allyl thiosulfinates	Garlic, onions, leeks	Anticarcinogen
		Antibacterial
		Cholesterol lowering
Isolhiocyanates	Cruciferous vegetables, e.g.	Antimutagen
and indoles	broccoli, cabbage
Phytosterols,	Pumpkin seeds	Reduce symptoms of prostate
e.g. β-sitosterol		enlargement

This list is not exhaustive for phytochemicals.

Table 2 Occurrence of phytochemicals in human blood and tissues

Phytochemicals	Where can we find them in the body
Carotenoids	Serum (five major carotenoids)
Lutein/zeaxanthin	Skin
β-cryptoxanthin	Adipose tissues
Lycopene	Lens and macula (lutein/zeaxanthin)
α-carotene	Various tissues like prostate (lycopene)
β-carotene
Flavonoids	Serum
Quercetin, kaempferol	Urine
Isoflavcnes	Serum
Geristein, daidzein	Urine
Catechins eplgallo-catechin gallate	Serum
Allyl thiosulfinates	Blood, serum, red blood cells
organosulfides	Adipose tissue
vinyl dithiins	Liver
	Kidney
	Breath
Tocotrienols	Sikin

Table 3 Not available

Vegetable juice/soup		No	Yes
Serum concentration (nmol/L)	Reference range	Jan 96	May 97
Lutein/zeaxanthin	80-850	102	202
β-cryptoxanthin	175-1350	Not detectable	12
Lycopene	69-650	Not detectable	33
α-carotene	15-300	Not detectable	Not detectable
β-carotene	45-900	Not detectable	93

Table 4 Not available

V-8ceTM (glass/day)		0	1 × 2	1 × 1
Serum concentration (nmol/L)	Reference range	Nov 95	May 96	Nov 96
Lutein/zeaxanthin	80-850	Not detectable	243	17
β-crytoxanthin	175-1350	Not detectable	18	Not detectable
Lycopene	69-650	Not detectable	32	11
α-carotene	15-300	Not detectable	Not detectable	Not detectable
β-carotene	45-900	Not detectable	10	8